Support for compliance

Easily manage permissions around data access including user-defined server roles to support separation of duties and contained database authentication. Help increase manageability and decrease complexity of database schema through new default schema for groups that allows a default database schema for Windows group user accounts.

Reporting and analytics

Support for multi-dimensional models allows IT to build business logic with Reporting Services. Report Builder 3.0 provides an intuitive report authoring environment. Take advantage of SQL Server predictive analytics in Excel and Visio with the SQL Server Data Mining add-in.

Rich data integration

Integrate data from disparate sources with SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS), which includes support for the deployment and administration of ETL tasks such as better tracking of SSIS packet status and the ability to run administration as a separate SQL Server instance.

Improved manageability

SQL Server Management Studio and updated management packs for System Center help you centrally manage your infrastructure. Added support for Windows PowerShell 2.0 automates management tasks, and enhancements to Sys Prep help you more efficiently create virtual machines.

Robust development tools

With SQL Server Data Tools, database development is integrated into Visual Studio and/or available for download to support building next-generation web, enterprise, business intelligence and data-aware mobile applications across on-premises and public cloud.

Things you can do

Run non-mission critical applications

Provide core data management capabilities including high availability, security, scalability and performance for small and medium businesses and departmental applications. With Software Assurance, use unlimited virtualization to support consolidation of mid-size applications.

Deliver standard reporting and analytics

SQL Server Integration Services brings together various types of data while Analytics Services enables you to build models for core analysis and reporting. Reporting Services with Report Builder enable you to build operational reports for small and medium business and departmental needs.

Build rich content management applications

SQL Server makes it easy to manage content as an integrated part of an application with key capabilities such as FILESTREAM, File Table, full text search and semantic search. SQL Server also supports rich spatial capabilities.